Save a Child’s Life.Sign the Petition to Stop Child Abuse Deaths
According to the Administration for Children and Families, more than 12,000 children died from abuse and neglect between 2001 and 2008. NASW is a partner in the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths and is asking every NASW member to sign a petition asking Congress to

Adopt a national strategy to prevent child abuse and stop these deaths.

To learn more about protecting America’s children and to access the new, free report by the Every Child Matters Education Fund on child abuse deaths in the United States—We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in America, Second Edition— click here.

NASW Law Note:Legal Rights of ChildrenNASW General Counsel, NASW Legal Defense Fund
Have you ever wondered what legal issues determine a child’s rights? Legal Rights of Children is a part of a series of General Counsel Law Notes written with the support of the NASW Legal Defense Fund. This title highlights the various approaches taken by states concerning how the legal status and age of a child affect the right to sue, the right to make treatment decisions concerning the child’s care, the right to contract, the right to educational services, and the right to be free from abuse and neglect. Learn more about this publication and order it here.

CHILD WELFAREJoin the Section that Supports Social Workers Championing and Protecting the Well-Being of Our Nation’s Children
NASW’s Child Welfare Specialty Practice Section supports social workers in this practice area by keeping them current on issues, trends, research, and policy affecting their work and the children they protect. The section offers free CE webinars, practice-focused e-newsletters and alerts, and opportunities to build professional relationships with other colleagues in the field. Learn more about this section and join here.

Is Your Practice Area Child Welfare?Back Your Work with a Children, Youth, and Family Certification
Available at both the MSW and BSW levels, the Children, Youth, and Family specialty certification shows you have met nationally established standards of social work experience, advanced skills, ongoing professional development, and leadership in your practice area. Learn more about this valuable credential and apply here.

NOTE: You will need your NASW username and password to access practice updates.

Prepare Now for Responding to Electronic Privacy BreachesPreventing and Responding to Electronic Privacy Breaches is the newest Legal Defense Fund “Legal Issue of the Month” article. Health care professionals, including clinical social workers, need to be prepared to protect electronic client records and to respond quickly and appropriately in the event of a breach, due to state and federal legal requirements and clinical and ethical considerations. Read the Legal Issue here.

Understand and Exercise Your Legal Rights and Responsibilities
NASW General Counsel Law Notes help you understand and exercise your legal rights and responsibilities as well as those of your clients. Contents vary by title and generally include legal information, civil procedure, contracts, legal methods, and glossaries. Click here for topics, pricing, and ordering information. The Law Note Legal Rights of Children is now available through the NASW Press and can be ordered here.

“They Just Don’t Get It. . .” Navigating the New Multigenerational Workplace (1.0 Free CE Credit)—November 9, 2010
For the first time in the United States, four generations are together in the workplace. Learn about the new multigenerational workplace and the dynamics of different generations working together. Explore unique opportunities for intergenerational collaboration and teamwork. Learn more about this webinar and register here. NASW members only.

Ending Homelessness Among Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care (1.0 Free CE Credit)—December 16, 2010
Too often, young people who leave foster care face housing needs upon discharge. Find out what these youth face once discharged and how you can help them access housing. Learn more about this webinar and register here.NASW members only.

Audio recordings and transcripts of past NASW Lunchtime Series and Specialty Practice Sections webinars are available online on demand. You will earn the full CE credit for each completed webinar when you pass the online post-test. Start earning CE credit today.

Understanding the "Hook": Strategies for Gambling Addiction Prevention and Intervention (1.0 Free CE Credit)—October 26, 2010
Understand how legislation and public policy affect gambling addiction prevention and intervention strategies. Find out why some people become addicted to gambling. Discuss resources for education, awareness, and treatment. Learn more about this webinar and register here.NASW SPS members only.

The Complexities of Elder Abuse (1.0 Free CE Credit)—December 9, 2010
The webinar will examine the nature, scope, and consequences of elder abuse. Using case studies, you will explore ethical and other challenges of problem prevention and intervention. Learn more about this webinar and register here.NASW SPS members only.

Risk Management Workshops: Protect Yourself and Your Ability to Practice Social Work (3.0 CE Credits)
The ASI Education Center offers risk management workshops,sponsored by NASW Assurance Services and co-sponsored by NASW Chapters and other hosts. Workshop presenters are social workers, who are also former board members, trained in the latest malpractice risk management techniques. Protect yourself and your ability to practice social work by participating in a local risk management workshop (3.0 CE credits). You also can take free NASW WebEd online courses on ethics and malpractice, including the new course, An Advanced Course in Ethics and Malpractice Risk for Social Workers.

Stay Informed on Medicare Clinical Social Work Rates.Sign Up for NASW’s Advocacy Updates

Legislation establishing the 2011 payment rates for Medicare outpatient clinical social work services and other physician services must be passed by late November to avoid a large scheduled cut in current payment rates. Congress plans to consider rates again in their lame duck session planned for late November through early December. Sign up here for NASW advocacy updates to stay current on this very critical issue.

NASW applauds passage of the historic health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and recognizes the 6-month anniversary since the bill was signed into law. Enactment of the ACA on March 23, 2010 was an important step forward in the fight to secure health care for all Americans, especially the most vulnerable populations. Provisions in the health care reform law—including expansion of Medicaid, increased funding for prevention, the creation of state-based health insurance exchanges, and the enactment of numerous regulatory checks on the insurance industry—will improve access to care for all Americans. Click here to read more about ACA and social work.

Are You One of the Next NASW Leaders?Now Accepting Nominations for NASW Leadership Positions

Being a volunteer leader is a valued skill and gives you the opportunity to accomplish more for your profession and your clients. NASW is now accepting nominations for national elected and appointed positions. Nominations are due by October 29, 2010. Click here to learn more and to apply.

Learn about NASW’s work with its extensive network of partners, professionals, educators, students, and leaders during 2009-2010. Click here to read the annual report.

The Social Work Policy Institute (SWPI) has released the report and brief summary from the Hospice Social Work: Linking Policy, Practice, and Researchsymposium held in March 2010. The report explores the connections between quality hospice social work services, the mission of hospice, federal requirements, professional standards, and the current state of hospice research by social workers. Recommended action steps to enhance excellence in hospice care highlight strategies that can be undertaken by multiple stakeholders. The full report includes an extensive appendix with information on federal regulations and quality improvement efforts. Download the free report here and the summary here.

Both current and past issues of the NASW NEWS are available online 24/7. All you need to access these issues is your NASW username and password. Look for these articles in the October issue:

From the President: The Urgency of Social Worker Safety By James J. Kelly, PhD, ACSW, LCSW
Unlike many other helping professionals, social workers often must put themselves in harm’s way in order to help their clients. In an effort to honor our colleagues who have lost their lives while performing social work duties, NASW, in partnership with the NASW Pioneers®, will begin a memorial project in their memory.

NASW Chapters Placing Increased Emphasis on Professional Safety
Gary McDaniel was a friend and professional colleague of Brenda Lee Yeager, a West Virginia social worker who was brutally killed by a young couple during a home visit in 2008. McDaniel said Yeager’s tragic death inspired him to help other social workers in dealing with conflict resolution through safety workshops he hosts for the NASW West Virginia Chapter and other groups. West Virginia is one of several NASW Chapters in recent years that have made positive strides in social work safety in the aftermath of violent acts against a colleague.

End-of-Life Care Practice Conference Draws Geographically Diverse Crowd
More than 300 people attended NASW’s second annual practice conference, Social Work’s Critical Role in End-of-Life Care, in Boston. The August gathering offered the opportunity to hear and exchange dialogue from a variety of leaders in end-of-life and palliative care.

NASW Urges Action on Bill to End Corporal Punishment in Schools
A new NASW Action Alert asks members to urge their congressional representatives to support the Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools Act, H.R. 5628, recently introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) who chairs the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.

Social Work is dedicated to improving practice and advancing knowledge in social work and social welfare. It is provided to you online as part of your membership benefits. Log in today using your NASW username and password to read the full articles below from October’s issue. Member discounts are available for all other journal subscriptions.

Native Americans and Brief Spiritual Assessment: Examining and Operationalizing the Joint Commission’s Assessment Framework David R. Hodge and Gordon E. Limb
Since the turn of the century, the Joint Commission has required spiritual assessments for Native Americans in hospitals and many other mental health settings. This study asked 50 experts in Native American culture to evaluate the new assessment framework, and the results indicate that it is moderately consistent with Native American culture. Practice-oriented suggestions and tools are offered.

What Good Is Soft Evidence?Allison D. Murdach
Social work today is struggling to become a more “evidence-based” activity. Despite the push to base social work practice on scientific results (“hard data”), frontline social workers still rely heavily on qualitative, nonscientific evidence (“soft data”). This article looks at the types of soft evidence typically encountered in direct practice and how practitioners can best determine its usefulness.

Political Activities of Social Workers: Addressing Perceived Barriers to Political ParticipationCynthia Rocha, Bethanie Poe, and Velsika Thomas
Review the literature on social workers’ political activities and the variables that promote or impede political advocacy. Learn what the legal barriers to participation are, including the actual restrictions that 501(c)(3) organizations and publicly employed social workers face in engaging in lobbying efforts and partisan politics.

Wear Your Social Worker Pin with Pride: Support the NASW Foundation’s Public Education Campaign

Celebrate your education and experience, and help tell the Social Work story. Your support of the NASW Foundation’s National Social Work Public Education Campaign helps us educate the media, policymakers, employers, students, and the public about the importance of the social work profession. Contribute to the campaign today and receive a complimentary professional social worker pin. To learn more about the Social Work Public Education Campaign and how you can get involved, click here.

NASW Member Services Open 9:00 am to 9:00 pm EST NASW Member Services is now open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm EST. You can reach us at 800.742.4089 or membership@naswdc.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

Free Ethics Consultations
If you are facing an ethical dilemma on the job, call the NASW Office of Ethics and Professional Review (OEPR) at 800.638.8799 ext. 231 or 202.336.8231 to set up a free consultation. NASW’s OEPR provides free ethics consultations for current NASW members. Hours: Tuesdays: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm EST; Thursdays: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST.

Free Legal Issue Consultations
As an NASW member, you can schedule consultations on social-work-related legal matters with the legal staff based on availability. For more information and to set up a consultation, call 800.638.8799 ext. 290 or 202.408.8600 ext. 290.

Secure Your Family’s Future with Term Life Coverage Amounts up to $407,000NASW Assurance Services offers you affordable term life insurance options in increments of $1,000 that give you the flexibility to customize the amount that’s just right for you and the ones you love. Visit NASW Assurance Services or call 866.591.8267 for more information.

Free Risk Management Hotline for All NASW MembersA risk management hotline is available to all NASW members, as well as professional liability insurance policyholders. The hotline specializes in risk management information to help members avoid licensing board complaints and malpractice lawsuits. Call 800.421.6694 for more information.

You’re Exposed to Many Potential Malpractice Lawsuits. Protect Yourself
As a social worker, you’re exposed to many potential malpractice lawsuits. Even a groundless claim can jeopardize your reputation and ability to practice. NASW Assurance Services’ professional liability insurance allows you to tailor flexible coverage options to meet your specific needs. This program insures thousands of social workers worldwide. It’s perfect for independent contractors, private practitioners, exclusively employed individuals, partnerships, corporations, schools, students, and more. Apply now with no risk. For additional information, call 800.421.6694 or visit NASW Assurance Services today.

When you stay two separate times at a Choice Hotel with arrival by November 3, 2010, you can earn a free night with Choice Privileges®. Stays must be booked at www.choicehotels.com or 800.258.2847 and you must be a Choice Privileges member. If you are not a Choice Privileges member, go to www.choiceprivileges.com/signup/NASWORKS to sign up today.

New Email Address? Be Sure to Let Us Know

Let us know if you change your email address to ensure you continue receiving key member benefits such as MemberLink, the Association’s monthly e-newsletter; electronic access to Social Work, the leading journal of the profession; and other important email alerts. To update your email address and other contact information electronically, log in to NASW’s Member Center at socialworkers.org/membercenter. Or, call Member Services at 800.742.4089 Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm EST to speak with a representative.

Email Tip
Remember to add nasw@naswdc.org to your address book to continue receiving our emails in your mailbox. Also, if you have a work address on file with us, please ask your Information Technology department to add nasw@naswdc.org to your organization’s list of preferred recipients.